NDTV 24 X 7: Barkha Dutt, probably the only Media person that I would expect to hold a discussion with neutral moderation, after Pranoy Roy and Rajdeep Sardesai.
Barkha, I just hope you read this post and see what damage are you doing to your image by hosting a 'Media imposed Ethics' show prime time on one of the remaining news channels that still make some sense.
The entire show was being run on the argument that Manu Sharma should not have had drinks in a pub when he was out on parole!!!?
How far back in time do you want India to go back and start considering visiting pubs as a taboo?
I was expecting that this discussion would be productive. That by using such an intellectual panel you will discuss who is responsible for what happened, reasons for what happened, what could have happened, fixing of the system that such goof ups do not happen in future, etc.
Instead, the only point that you wanted to make was 'Media imposed Ethics'. All you wanted to present was, that it was unethical for Manu Sharma to have a drink in a pub, when he was out on parole, presumably, for visiting his sick mother and take care of his business. It was crystal clear from the discussion that there is nothing illegal in going to a pub and relax yourself even if you are out on a parole due to reasons other than partying. We live in a democratic country and if you feel so strongly against the parole system not catering to ethics of the middle class then there are ways to get it fixed. Is Media over and above the Law of our country? Who gave media the right to dictate what is ethical and what is not, and bring in a panel of senior SMEs and insult them on the show, by either not letting them speak or switch off their mikes when they want to make a valid point which does not match the perception that the channel/you have.
Wrongs that you did today:
1. Manu Sharma is out on parole since September 22 which makes it almost 2 months. Where was NDTV when Manu Sharma came out or when his parole was extended? Waiting for him to reach a Pub so that NDTV can create a hooplah about it??
2. Not respecting the individual opinions of the panel brought to the discussion. When in moderation you should not have pushed your words in their mouth. You could have just asked the right questions.
Mr. Ram Jethmalani might have made some wrong statements in defence of his client, but he made some ethically right statements as well like 'Let the person who is out on parole to lead a normal life on parole so that when he is out, he is not a bandit but a normal human being.'
Another point that you did not consider: Do you expect, that if Manu really came out on parole for the reason of visiting his sick mother, that he should sit for the entire time of the parole, next to his mother in the hospital. So what if he went out for a drink?
3. Declare Media to be over and above the Law of India to dictate Ethics. Manu Sharma has done nothing illegal by going to a pub and the law of India 'DOES TAKE' ethics into consideration in a lot of regulations. India is a democracy so if you do not like something, take it up with the relevant authorities and change the law. Or do you want to selectively believe in democracy for the Right to Speak - 'Independent Media'. All you were doing was to create an agenda for your channels business, by taking the safe route of showing off the rectification of the ethics in the country. Why does the same channel then advocate against any political party or politician for dictating ethics?
4. Suggesting that Congress needs to answer why this happened or clarify their stand?? A healthy debate made political for reasons of propaganda. If at all, it was a matter of influential parents, regardless of the political party that they belong to. Why should the party defend it?
I am, in no means a promoter of Manu Sharma nor the Congress party, but I strongly feel that you have now become part of the irresponsible Indian media who have a single goal of increasing the TRP based on how much hype they can create on any issue. Or may be you were trying to woo your visiting guest Mrs. Neelam Katara? (With all due respect to the lady for her relevant comments on the topic)
People follow media and form opinions based on the Media discussion, so it is all the more important for the media to realize their circle of influence and put some checks on themselves.
"This is not the Barkha Dutt I knew", or probably you should go back to the field job.
I just hope that God be with India who is in the strong influence of Media people like you.
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